The times set during this prologue will have no incidence on the
overall classification. The positions however are taken into account
for Thursday's special. Cyril Depres will therefore take off in first
position in Corbieres.

Alfie Cox.

Photo by Gauloises Racing.

Cars22:09 - Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka (Nissan n.201) managed the best time
of the Telefonica Dakar prologue in Marseille's Parc Chanot. The 1997
rally winner clocked a time of 1min43.73s. On his new Pickup, 'Shino'
beat Mitsubishi's Stephane Peterhansel (n.206) by less than a second.
His compatriot and last year's winner Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi n.200)
took third spot.

The good surprise came from former two time WRC rally champion Miki
Biasion (Nissan n.207) who claimed a very interesting fourth position in
his first experience on the Dakar. Jean-Louis Schlesser (Schlesser-Ford
n.208) finished in 8th spot in front of team-mate Josep-Maria Servia
while Jutta Kleinschmitt (Volkswagen n.203) had to settle with 12th
position as she discovered for the first time what her new car was
capable of on a real track.

The first BMW of the prologue standing was that of Belgian Gregoire
De Mevius (n.205). While the times are not taken into consideration,
Shinozuka will still start Thursday's Corbieres special in first
position.

Truck23:42 - Brazil's Andre De Azevedo (Tatra n.410) managed the best time of
the prologue in Marseille's Parc Chanot. On his Tatra truck alongside
co-pilots Tomecek and Martinec, the Brazilian beat Belgium's Johannes De
Rooy (DAF n.409) in a time of 2mn33.18s.

Third place went to Italy's Corrado Pattono (Mercedes n.402). Winner
of the previous edition of the Dakar, Vladimir Tchaguine (Kamaz n.407)
finished in 8th spot.